Norwich started slowly trying to force their way through the centre of an elder and more physically strong Dereham side. City payed the price conceding 5 first half goals. The only ray of light a Kit P break down the right leading to what looked like a consolation goal. The goal proved a good lesson and the boys worked out that by moving the ball quickly they could pick apart the Dereham side.

The second half started better. The quick passing put Austin through on the break who eliminated to last defender and keeper with a lovely square ball to Kieran who popped it into the goal. The next city goal; a solo effort from Kieran; he received the ball in a crowded area; spun with the ball stuck to the end of his stick taking out 3 defenders before slotting it past the keeper – champagne moment! Norwich were now dominating the game and short corners came. Harry finished one of them brilliantly. Another goal would have come and could have come if the Dereham keeper had not pulled off a brilliant one on one save with Austin.

My reflections – “I never lost a game just ran out of time” Michael Jordan. Very true for this game and great that they did not give up!

Harleston started off on the front foot using a strong midfield setup and placing a lot of pressure on the Norwich side which led to two early goals. City began to get back into the game by the latter part of the first quarter, passing the ball well and having several shots on goal but thwarted by the Harleston keeper. 2-0 Into the second quarter and City took on another goal unfortunately but City worked relentlessly to try and get one back and through continuous chances City finally scored and started a come back. 3-1 Into the third quarter City played well when attacking with some lovely passing and running of the ball but we still struggled to defend as a team and were finding it difficult to hold Harleston which lead to a couple more goals against us. City never gave up and in total had many more chances than Harleston to score and with several chances saved or the ball just missing the Harleston goal City did managed to score. 5-2 On reflection City could have been level with Harleston by the amount of opportunities but it was a game where the ball just didn’t want to go in. Into the last quarter we switched to a different system which worked better against Harleston, holding their midfield and we could attack in numbers and defend more solidly leading to us scoring two more goals and limiting Harleston to one more goals against City bringing the final score to 6-4. The City dev boys did really well, they never gave up and fought back against a very strong Harleston team.

This game was going to be a test of nerves for City Devs with Magpies looking ready and prepared to go, warming up with a buzz of confidence. Both teams started off well with end to end play and in doing so making several chances. Most of the play was very concentrated in the midfield so short sharp play into space was required and an even, well fought battle ensued between the players. Magpies over time were more consistent with their basic space awareness style of play which lead to them taking the lead. With persistent pressure against City and making more mistakes, Magpies created more chances and in doing so winning short corners which lead to two more goals making it 0-3. Into the third quarter City kept playing well and worked hard on their basics of pass and move, creating space and communicating positively, eventually a short corner was won with some lovely passing into the D. This ended the third quarter with a penalty corner goal and we were starting to turn the tide and confidence crept in. Being 1-4 down by then we realised that the last quarter was going to be a ‘give it everything and leave nothing behind’ but keep to what we discussed from the start, moving into space, keep our shape, be positive and constructive. This is where City have to take self pride from the game because the last quarter was an incredible display of determination, skilful play and team work. Working together City dominated the Magpies team leaving them to replace their young players with another adult to try and stop the constant and endless attacking play which lead to two more City goals as penalty corner after penalty were won. City Devs were beaten on the day but I can honestly say they will take away a very positive attitude from today’s game into the next. Well done chaps.

REPORT:Deferring to the England Rugby style of attack today (small matter of a World Cup final) by copying the opposing team’s playbook: ‘narrow and down the middle’, seemed a fitting moment to take our first defeat and though we didn’t plan it that way we did plan a challenge which we took with both good sportsmanship and good banter amongst the team in the clubhouse after. Credit where due: first cap to Ed L. despite only recently joining us he showed plenty of spirit acting in a timely fashion, making good interceptions and accurately passing to our right half, often. Others had new and unfamiliar positions and did really well with uncertainty. With more experience we will gain confidence in when to have a go, and what to do with it once we’ve won it in order to eliminate opposition players and make the pass that puts us into the overload on oppo defence. Pressure pays! Tactically, our early passes didn’t happen perhaps as much as we might have liked amongst the forwards and midfield (though credit be given to Dereham’s rush defence) and as a team we could have stretched the space at the top and across the width to counteract the pressure more by consequentially giving the midfield room and space to make passes with. As in attack, in defence: when we lost the ball (wherever on the pitch) we acted swiftly to put pressure on, most of the time. Whilst many would feel they could have played better in parts, what is to be cherished from this game and because of the defeat is the opportunity it gave us to step up and get stuck in. I thought we showed great character in this regard – we should rightly be proud of our efforts.

REPORT: Not wanting to test the particulars of a field called “match report” for size one could have simply written “goal fest- bundle!” after today’s exploits and have left it there to re-watch World Cup rugby but for 32 raised, if imaginary, eyebrows. So with a test audience of one 13 year old to inform this week’s scribe’s prior output (being slated as “neither interesting nor insightful”) a change of tack seems in order-

At first, the fine droplets infusing the atmosphere seemed refreshing, even welcome and just maybe a balm to the fervent ardour with which our enlarged squad would wish to seek their goal, dousing the fire in their bellies through a rainbow shaped prism of circumspection, dampening their goal bound quest through the very real drizzle heading straight for their eyes. But perhaps not, aside from being too metaphysical, on too many levels, by the end, this team was saturated with teamsmanship; the drizzle turning to steam bellowed from their nostrils, the oppo by contrast caught, frozen by the penetrating glare of the arc lights of selflessness with which the devs prosecuted their mission. And if this seems contrived then, well, so was the attacking play; contrived to eliminate. Likewise, the defence contrived to deny space to oppo attacks and the oxygen of a passing game. As the game wore on our fresher legs (BTW no one played more than 3/4s of a game and half backs all played 5/8s) held firm and illustrated what can be achieved when we trust in each other.

Actually if romantic fiction isn’t your thing, then it’s not your week, as there were just too many good actual moments to report in this game. Yet we should record how far we have come (in such a short time) and how proud we should be of ourselves and each other, so really this report should read “goalsfest- bundle!”

REPORT: We wanted to start the game with a simple good passing strategy, making the ball do the work and tiring the opposition and making sure that we attack as a team and defended as a team.

From the first whistle this is exactly what City did by moving the ball from the back through Sam K and Lucas H or via Max M all linking up with Harry M and Charlie H creating some lovely link up play making several attacking chances into the Dragons D. Working off the midfield trying to create goal scoring chances were Kit P and Edward B playing with flare and confidence running the Dragons defence ragged at times and always having the awareness to play the ball back to the midfield or to the defence to restart the attack again if they were unable to penetrate the Dragon defence. Will J kept steady in goal, positioning himself well in his D by shot blocking at the right times and with a solid back defence it was a great combination. Eventually the deadlock was broken by Max M in the first quarter scoring after continuous pressure from the Norwich boys, well deserved. Defensively Ellis B and Benjamin H continued to make tackle after tackle thwarting the Dragons attack and yet having the mindset to make themselves available once we had secured possession wide enough to allow play to be moved down the outside flanks. Great work by Charl M and Will M working really hard on pitch and being placed in the different positions that they are not always use to - credit to them by making the opposition work. Into the third quarter it was still 0-1 to City and after another well constructed attack passing into the Dragons 25yd area Kit P decided to make an amazing run into the left side of the D skilfully passing several defenders along the back line and up to the goal, finally placing the ball through the keepers legs. Great goal and making it 0-2 to City. In the fourth quarter City made sure they did the simple stuff by passing well and not running with the ball due to tired legs which were becoming apparent, but Dragons sensing this started to pressure City with several last ditch attempts and in doing so made more attacks in the last quarter than during the whole of the game. This paid off by Dragons scoring quite a simple goal by passing through the middle and pushing the ball under the oncoming keepers feet. City stood firm and were still able make attempts on the Dragons goal and quite rightly held their heads high when the final whistle blew with a well fought and deserved win.

REPORT:A four thirty push back was pushed back just gone five due to an injury delay in an earlier game. Despite this, City were primed and ready for action, welcoming Joel Luckett and Douglas Halls for their debut game in the Devs. East Coast fielded an energetic team, bolstered by two adults at the back shaping the play and implementing vigorous rushes into the City half. City, without a goal keeper, played three across the back – Kieran Shapcott on the right and Will Myhill on the left, calmly organised with great communication by Ben Hawes as centre back. Shapcott repeatedly closed down and cleared numerous East Coast attacks with well-timed interceptions followed by accurate passes to his midfield. Myhill, also reading the game very well, was consistently well-positioned to make decisive tackles, winning the ball and sending it wide left to Ellis Byland-Brookes, ready to turn defence into attack. Halls played a determined role at right half, making tackles and passing the ball to his team- mates, growing in confidence as the game progressed and enjoying it too. In the middle, Harry Morgan found his range and vision, creating width and varying the point of City’s attacks. He varied play well, sometimes surging forward, sometimes sending delicate passes through to the forward line. After some sustained pressure, City forced a short corner which Louis Miller scored with a well struck shot into the corner. This was closely followed by a terrific one-on one finish against the goalie by Luckett, perfectly placed in his centre-forward role. Following more City attacks down the right, with Charlie Hutchinson combining well with Miller, the ball was sent into the D and Ed Beake finished with a clean strike. Not long before half-time, Hutchinson scored City’s fourth after a delightful ball through to him from Morgan.

City were determined to continue to improve their ball distribution in the second half. They realised the successes gained when they didn’t try to attack through the middle into a wall of opposition players. City managed to make the ball do the work much better this week than last time out and although there is still room for improvement, chances were made much more frequently due to better variation and use of width. Tom Leeming epitomised City’s attitude towards teamwork, with countless runs into space and due to this, making space for City’s next goal, created and scored by a quick carry into the D and strike by Morgan. This was followed by more City pressure in East Coast’s D resulting in Beake’s second goal. Beake showed continued determination, power and skill on the left, winning the ball and taking on the intimidating frame of the East Coast right back to great effect for the team. City completed their 7-0 win with a specially topped bobble strike from Hutchinson from the edge of the D which, with a similar trajectory to Barnes-Wallace’s World War Two bouncing bomb, found its way into the net. Well played lads!

REPORT: With a bare eleven available for the am match slot being whittled to 9 by Rugby (of all things!) the aged sub bench might have wished they too could be watching from some sports bar and reminiscing about victories past rather than being forced to recreate them as “brand new” fullbacks. However, I think it fair to say everyone had a really good day out. The forwards demonstrated good skills and created lots of chances being in good positions, packing the 5 in the oppo D and the tackling and interceptions from the half backs was very solid and saved the midfield some extra work as we struggled with turnover ball - partly because the midfield tended at times to play a bit wide and a bit high and at other times because we allowed the oppo to get side on rather than forcing them to gamble on the pass through or force them turn them back. Whilst there were some things to work on we can definitely celebrate our passing game, playing our trademark composed and selfless style. Credit to Dragons too, they played with good tempo in attack and grew in confidence as the game drew on, pressing forward as our legs, perhaps, tired. This was our sternest test yet and it turned into one of the most enjoyable games to have watched or played in, leaving it as we did, with everything on the pitch with maybe even a few of our own dusty hairs. FYI Dusty Hare (as everyone knows) was one of the great inspirational fullbacks of English rugby, mercurial and composed even in the twilight of his long career, illuminating, if you will, the great sporting journey we can all still have ahead of us: "if you reach for the stars, you might touch the sky." Look forward to training on Tuesday where Tom will no doubt have new challenges, we have East Coast next Saturday followed by a break...

REPORT: Firstly many thanks to Josie for playing for Dragons today avoiding postponement at the eleventh hour, anyway... Lots of positives from today’s game:-

The passing game - For those not able to make training it is probably worth recognising that the width and depth in attack that we strived for created the space for the midfield to hold the ball until a good pass was on – nice work when you can get it Mattie and Harry, threading considerate balls through to our attack. Others for whom this position is newer also played well with clean square passes showing good awareness to avoid the obvious trap of trying to pass through a solid stick, and which, coupled with their high workrate for the team when the ball was lost was commendable, Ellis and Freddy. In the front line we saw how to manufacture shortcorners - particularly by Louis - and from Charlie a huge workrate and tasty assists in tight spaces, really valuable too. Also worth mentioning the posting up from the ever-hungry-for-work Ed, turning Dragons defence inside out before releasing passes to stick in the “3 point zone”, absolutely fabulous. In fact I don’t think we’ve played more selfless, assured hockey up front this season.

Pressure - In the midfield against a clearly more physical and very probably older team (even excluding their man at the back!) required stronger, flat stick tackles. The alternative is to shadow and jab to keep their heads down and, unable to make a pass, they hold the game up allowing us to either double team them or get the rest of our defence into better positions. However, our incessant workrate and pressure led to numerous interceptions overturning their attack making it our attack, particular well dones to Lucas and Will M, good throughout.

Discipline in defence – the “not being drawn into a midfield role” improved compared to our previous outing against Watton, well done for keeping organised at the back with a watchful eye for their classic long ball through, which they sent more in hope than expectation but nevertheless we kept honest and eliminated the threat from their last man. Will J did really well on the few occasions that he was tested and I suspect when we play this new team again it will be sterner yet but Sam K and Harrison proved superb with back to back tackles from Harrison and assured distribution from Sam meaning we had energy left to burn, experience illuminating where to point the lit fuse.

So thanks be given - Huge thanks to all the helpers who made today such a joy: Tom, Helen, Peter, Jim, David, Rob and Joanna – actually I think I owe one of you for the recuperative coffee that allowed me to channel my inner Geoffrey Cox from the sideline, unlike our Westminster friends we seem to have a rather more cohesive team spirit about us, which is nice…

W (9-0) 21/09/2019 - MD vs Watton (H / L) AIN'T NO I IN TEAM

MENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 21/09/2019 VS WATTON (H)

TEAM: Mens Development XI DATE: 21/09/2019 FIXTURE: Mens Development XI VS 21/09/2019 HEADLINE: Ain't no I in team LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED VENUE: Home RESULT: 9-0 Win

REPORT: Norwich started strongly playing crisp hockey, passing firmly to stick or into space with good movement off the ball. This pushed Watton to defend deep allowing us to occupy the middle ground with ease. A further improvement for next time is add the switch to use the width rather than ploughing on through congestion where even handy players often lost possession, bringing pressure to bear on our defence. On this outing Will had to make two whole saves but didn’t he make them well!

2nd half players either reverted to regular positions or were posted into new roles to stretch their skills and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the bigger picture. This willingness to try out is a terrific experience for many though presents initial trepidation for some. As a coaching team we are there to serve the player’s and the team’s best interests so do feel free to discuss the learning points if they are not apparent or clear, or, send your representative!

We defended reasonably deeply despite the impulse to always get involved and that discipline we showed plus because we won our races meant, in the main, we didn’t trouble the umpire’s whistle in defence, much. During cup games that luxury will be in scarcer supply so we must work on through training, thinking, eyes open in the games Tom creates to test you. And tested we will be in the coming weeks with higher standards to measure ourselves against.

REPORT: Norwich city took on a depleted dragons’ team for our preseason warm up friendly. It was a well intentioned encounter played with integrity; respecting umpiring decisions as is absolutely right, even on occasion owning up - as sportsman in this situation ought. That is not to say that either side gave a quarter nor did the experienced dev players refrain from occasional tactical play to constrain opposition attacks judging each situation really well and on its merits, thereby maintaining a clean sheet through the snuffing out of oppo attacks before they entered the D to strike except for 2 short corners. Fitness was tested (!) and will have improved from the high work rates that no subs and our ambition imposed, which was entirely as intended. This week’s secret mission prize being awarded to Tom for exemplary defence against counter attacks often overturning possession through shadowing pressure something we all have to work hard on. Whilst all will have benefited from the work rate after the long summer break, the training intensity will rise over the next couple of weeks to ensure that we are well positioned for any cup encounter we may face in the area round. Players, please ensure you take responsibility for being well rested, hydrated and nutritioned to make the most of Tuesday evenings and the training opportunity it presents. Our movement in attack was superb creating many D penetrations. Whilst the result looked comfortable we could have converted more and we’ll go through how in more detail in training - we can’t let good oppo goalkeeping get in the way of a victory! Congrats to Harrison and Freddy G on their mens Devs appearances - a well grounded start that experience this year will enhance as we develop during the season’s journey. My thanks to Krishna, Sam H and Mattie for a solid performance for our midfield to build off. Sam K and Ed looked composed in our wide attacks, sharpening through quarter 2&3 to create opportunities which with our attacking midfield duo of Harry and Tom (every ready to hunt overturned ball) put immense pressure on oppo’s defence. Huge thanks once again to Ellis, Charl and Corey who joined the dragon 8 even though it looked real weird to do so, so as to make a proper game with appropriate challenge and well done to James whose hattrick and high work rate off the ball earned him POTM. A good team effort well done guys. Finally a big thanks to umpire Alex for astute and accurate decisions and to David for keeping us on our toes(!)and the game flowing so well.